Chapter Four

His home was warm and tiny, with sectioned off room created by hanging blankets. I could only assume that the places where he stored the trunks, chests, and other treasures were behind the curtains. He made me some hot tea and gave me a sweet roll to nibble on.

"Where did you saw we are, again?" I asked between hungry bites.

"Dasek Moor Village. It used to be the site of some ancient mine, but the miners began to settle here. Eventually, they married and their children married and built their own homes. The mine is now forgotten, but the village will continue on. It's not much, and most city folk wouldn't stoop low enough to leave their snobby lives for Dasek Moor, no offense miss."

"No offense taken. I, myself, am from a small village. Perhaps you've heard of it? Gweden, it overlooks Anvil." I held my breath waiting for the inevitable.

"Gweden, you say?" He pursed his lips and paused for a long moment. "Yeah, I mighta heard of something somewhere along the road. Good farming land out there." He gave me a smile, "I personally assumed you were from Skingrad by your looks. You're a little grimy, but I assumed that was from getting lost in the woods. I mean, you're so pretty and all. If you don't mind me being so blunt, most High Elves tend to stay in the walls of a big city."

I must have given him a sharp look because I could see his pale face turning red in the light of the fire. "Pardon me, Mr. Greensley, but are you discriminating against me due to my race?" I tried to smile, but I couldn't convince my face to do it. My father never said it directly, but I have always had the feeling that one of those snobby girls from Skingrad was my mother, only she had lowered herself to village life. I assumed that is why my father believed I would marry a rich man from the city. Perhaps he thought those manicured, high class traits from my mother would appear in me as well. Discrimination has been an issue before, though. People passing through the village would see me selling my vegetables on the road in front of my house and assume that my husband dragged me from the big city to do his bidding. I have heard tales of men trying to use a woman's pretty face for his own gain, so it doesn't even faze me anymore when a traveler's wife stops to ask me where my father had my coming out party at. Oddly enough, high class society will ask that question before even requesting a last name. It is almost as if how rich your family is determines how the rest of the conversation will play out.

I have learned to use the high class ladies' views against them, however. I have performed out the response enough time that I can do it without a second thought. I give a weak smile and tell the pretty ladies in the prettier gowns that my father passed when I was younger and my horrible mother married me off so she could have all the money for herself. Those are the days that I sell the most goat cheese and vegetables.

"Sometimes I can't help it, miss. You gotta admit, when you first saw me and my cart you knew I wasn't heading towards any cities that I called home. It's the way our society's set up. You can't avoid it and you can't fix it. I would never want to offend ya, though." I could see that I had stepped on his toes with the way he was avoiding my eyes. The blaze from the fire gave his eyes a red tint that made me feel like there was more to this man than he let on. As if there was a dragon within.

"I guess I should've known better when I saw that bow on your back," he continued. "No city girl would even touch a weapon, let alone carry one around like they know how to use it."

"I can tell you're not a farmer," I said blankly. He shifted his gaze from the fire to me and stared for a second as if he was lost in his thoughts. "You're not, are you?"

A smirk spread across his face and he rubbed his hands on the thighs of his pant legs. The intelligence in his eyes was enough to show me that he was much more than a simple farmer. I could see that he spent his time doing something that challenged his mind and skills. "No miss, I'm not. I'm mixed up in some business that I shouldn't be, if you don't mind me being frank."

His honestly caused an excitement to rise in my chest and it must have been obvious by my face because his beautiful smile spread even wider, making his eyes gleam. "Are you an adventurer?" I asked shyly, trying to disguise my intrigue.

"Adventurer?" He chuckled. It's the only way I can describe his laugh: a deep, throaty chuckle. "I wish I could say I was something so heroic sounding. No, Miss Emi, I'm not any adventurer." He studied my face, gauging my expression before he continued on, "Those boxes in the back of my cart aren't anything that belong to me. I was born with a special gift that makes me as quiet as the night and as sneaky as a snake. I'm a thief." With this last statement, he maintained eye contact with me as if to be sure I was truly listening and understanding.

His confession should make me run for the hills. It should scare me away from him. However, all it achieved was a fresh spark of interest in him that I was unable to damper. He was so much more than an adventurer. He was a conqueror.

Danders's eyes were still on me, his face puzzled. Perhaps he was trying to figure out my expression. Perhaps he was trying to decide if he had made a mistake in telling me his secret. "You don't look like you're afraid of me?" He said questioningly.

I leaned forward, placing my elbows on my knees and looked him square in the eyes, "Was that your intention, Mr. Greensley?"

"No, Miss Emi, that was not what I was planning on." Another large smile smoothed across his face and his eyes blazed in the fire's light. He allowed a small laugh out as he ran a large hand over his scruffy face. "Ya know, I think we might get along rather well."

Unintentionally, the words fell out of my mouth, "Have you ever killed someone?"

His face betrayed no emotion as he looked into my eyes, "What would make you ask a question like that?"

"I…I…I was just curious," I stammered. I chastised myself for letting such a thing slip.

"You're not faint of heart, are you Miss Emi? No, you're not. I may have mistaken you as a city lady before, but I can see a fire within you. I can tell you from experience that sometimes you have to do things, things others would condemn as horrible, while you're out in these wilds." He paused as he put a poker to the fire. "You never let anyone tell you you're wrong for living. Take this as my answer."

I fiddled with the edge of my fired-clay cup and stared down at the tea leaves within. It was as if he already knew it my story, my shames.

Abruptly, he said, "First thing in the morning I gotta get you home. About how long were ya walking for?"

"No," I looked at him, "I will not be going home." I sat up very straight, trying to hide how my hands were shaking at the thought of returning home.

"If this is your idea of asking me to marry ya…" he laughed.

"What I meant is that I will need to be heading in a different direction!" I could feel my face flush.

"You can call me Danders, ya know." He said as he leaned back in his chair, looking very at ease.

"Pardon me?" I asked, caught completely off guard by his random statement.

"I noticed earlier you kept callin' me 'Mr. Greensley'. My name is Danders and that's what I want ya to call me." He gave me a small grin that did not reach his eyes.

"Do you want to know something, Danders?" I waited patiently until he gave me a nod, cuing me to continue. "I will never forget you for as long as I live."

This time the smile reached his eyes and set a spark in his blue eyes. "Are ya sure you don't wanna marry me?"

"Is that your way of asking?" I couldn't help but let out a little giggle.

Instead of answering, he stood out of his chair and walked over to me. He then knelt down on the floor in front of me so his face was only inches from mine. He gave another of his shinning smiles and leaned and whispered in my ear, "Miss Emerald, I will keep the memory of you and your eyes in a place where no one can steal it from me." He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. "Always you will be with me."

Without another word, Danders stood up and strolled across the room. He pinned back one of the hanging blankets to reveal a small bed. He then grabbed a bundle of what appeared to be fabric from the floor at the end of the bed. I watched him as he silently walked over to the front door. He gave me another soft, warm smile and started to walk out of the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked. I couldn't recall seeing any other doors around, so he must not have another bedroom in this small house.

"I'll be on the porch if ya need me, Miss Emi."

"Oh, please, don't let me put you out. I can sleep out there if you would like." I began to stand up and head towards the door in order to pull him back in the room.

"No. You will sleep in here. It's a warm night anyways. Besides, what would your father think if he found out I'd let his little daughter sleep out where the beasts can get her?"

"My father is dead so I am quite sure he would not mind." I said matter-of-factly.

"Well, my father isn't and he might kill me if he knew I wasn't treatin' a lady right." He gave a small grin. "Now go on to bed so we can an early start in the mornin' and getcha where ya need to go."

I decided there was no arguing with him and obeyed his request. I quickly gave him a peck on his stubbly check, enjoying the way the hair made my lips feel. I could hear him close the door behind me as I walked over to the small bed. I sat down hard and peeled off my shoes. Once I climbed under Danders's covers, I fell right to sleep.

And I dreamt of dragons.